Michael Healy-Rae
Question:593. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43415/20]
View answerPatient Transport
Questions (593)
Written answers
Patient transport is the responsibility for the Health Service Executive (HSE). Therefore I have referred the Deputy's question to the HSE for direct reply.
In addition, the Deputy may wish to note that under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, administered by the Department of Social Protection, a person may be eligible to apply for an Exceptional Needs Payment to help meet essential, one-off, exceptional expenditure, which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income.
Mental Health Policy
Questions (594)
Mark Ward
Question:594. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if there will be a Traveller mental health strategy developed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43420/20]
View answerWritten answers
The national mental health policy, Sharing the Vision, sets out a whole-of-population approach to mental health service delivery. The policy's objective is to deliver interventions that meet the individual needs of a service user, regardless of gender, ethnicity or socio-economic background. The policy recognises that priority groups, including the Traveller community, may need tailored interventions, including targeted campaigns, preventive outreach work and the provision of services that recognise and respond to diversity. This includes the development of culturally competent services and supports. This will be achieved in partnership with organisations working with priority groups, to increase effectiveness and impact.
Minister Butler recently met with the National Traveller Mental Health Network regarding Sharing the Vision . It was agreed that, as a representative group of the Traveller and Roma community, it would participate in the implementation structures of the new policy.
The National Implementation and Monitoring Committee (NIMC), which is tasked with responsibility for driving implementation of Sharing the Vision, comprises a Steering Committee, chaired by Mr John Saunders, (which held its inaugural meeting on 11th December) and an associated Specialist Group Panel. Of the nominees sought from organisations representing the Traveller community, including the National Traveller Mental Health Network, six individuals were appointed to the Specialist Group Panel.
In addition, The National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy (NTRIS) is the Government policy framework for addressing health and other needs of Travellers and Roma. It contains over 30 health-related actions in four themes. The Department of Health and the HSE are represented on the steering committee for NTRIS and report on a regular basis on the various health actions.
The Department of Health, in conjunction with the HSE, supports a range of targeted initiatives, programmes and supports to improve the health status of Travellers and Roma. These include:
- primary healthcare projects, counselling services, family support programmes, men's health projects and dedicated public health nurses and related staff;
- mental health promotion and suicide prevention services provided in a culturally sensitive manner, to reduce the stigma associated with mental health.
In November 2020, Connecting for Life, the national suicide reduction strategy was extended for a further four years from 2020 to 2024. The extension will allow for further implementation of the strategy comprising targeted approaches for those vulnerable to suicide, including members of the Traveller community.
The HSE employs a number of public health nurses and related staff to address priority health needs for members of the Traveller community. In addition, each Community Health Organisation employs a Traveller’s Mental Health Service coordinator, who is responsible for the implementation of agreed improvement programmes and projects specifically aimed at the Traveller community.
Mental Health Policy
Questions (595)
Mark Ward
Question:595. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if there will be a Traveller representative on the monitoring committee for the implementation of Sharing the Vision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43421/20]
View answerWritten answers
The National Implementation and Monitoring Committee (NIMC) is collectively responsible for driving and overseeing the long-term implementation of Sharing the Vision.The NIMC comprises a Steering Committee, chaired by Mr John Saunders, and an associated Specialist Group Panel.
The purpose of the NIMC Steering Committee and Specialist Group Panel will be to drive reconfiguration, monitor progress against outcomes and deliver on the commitments set out in the Policy.
The Steering Committee will work with partners to evaluate performance, check overall progress and gather information on examples of good practice as informed by national and international research.
In addition, the purpose of the NIMC Specialist Group Panel is to provide specialist input at various points in the implementation of the Policy, including being a member of specific themed specialist groups, as envisaged in the Policy.
The Department of Health requested nominations representative of different grades and professions from a number of different organisations, including advocacy groups and voluntary and community organisations, across the mental health sector. Letters requesting nominations to the NIMC Steering Committee/Specialist Group Panel issued in mid-November.
In December, a shortlist of nominees was presented to the Minister from which she selected and appointed members to the NIMC Steering Committee and Specialist Group panel. Of the nominees sought from organisations representing the Traveller Community, six individuals were appointed to the Specialist Group Panel.
It is envisaged that members of the Steering Committee and Specialist Group panel will be representative of their respective area of expertise rather than of any organisation.
Mental Health Policy
Questions (596)
Mark Ward
Question:596. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the representatives appointed to the monitoring committee for the implementation of Sharing the Vision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43418/20]
View answerWritten answers
The National Implementation and Monitoring Committee (NIMC) is collectively responsible for driving and overseeing the long-term implementation of Sharing the Vision.The NIMC comprises a Steering Committee, chaired by Mr John Saunders, and an associated Specialist Group Panel.
It is envisaged that members of the Steering Committee and Specialist Group panel will be representative of their respective area of expertise rather than of any organisation.
The membership of the NIMC Steering Committee and Specialist Group Panel represents a broad and diverse spectrum of mental health professionals and advocates, including people with lived experience, all of whom are highly qualified and bring considerable expertise to the NIMC.
The full list of membership of the NIMC Steering Committee is attached for the Deputy’s consideration.
NIMC Steering Committee
Mr. John Saunders (Chair)
Ms Fiona Coyle, Advocacy Expert
Ms Aisling Culhane, Psychiatric Nurse
Ms Kerry Cuskelly, Social Worker
Mr. Maurice Dillon, Occupational Therapist
Dr. Joseph Duffy, Psychologist and Youth Mental Health Services Expert
Dr. Daniel Flynn, Psychologist
Dr. Siobhan MacHale, Psychiatrist (Adult/Older persons)
Mr. Dave Maguire, Department of Health Lead
Mr. John Meehan, HSE
Dr. Amir Niazi, HSE National Clinical Lead
Dr. Brian Osborne, GP
Ms Caroline Pigott, Department of Health Sláintecare Lead
Mr. Ian Power, Youth Mental Health Expert
Mr. Jim Ryan, HSE
Mr. Michael Ryan, HSE Mental Health Engagement
Dr. Anne Marie Waldron, Psychiatrist (CAMHS).
Mental Health Policy
Questions (597)
Mark Ward
Question:597. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the way in which a service can nominate a person to the monitoring committee for the implementation of Sharing the Vision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43419/20]
View answerWritten answers
The National Implementation and Monitoring Committee (NIMC) is collectively responsible for driving and overseeing the long-term implementation of Sharing the Vision. The NIMC comprises a Steering Committee, chaired by Mr John Saunders, and an associated Specialist Group Panel.
The Department of Health requested nominations representative of different professions and experience from a number of different organisations across the mental health sector, including advocacy, community and voluntary groups. Letters requesting nominations to the NIMC Steering Committee/Specialist Group Panel issued in mid-November.
In December, a shortlist of nominees was presented to the Minister from which she selected and appointed members to the NIMC Steering Committee and Specialist Group Panel. The term of office for this NIMC will be three years. The inaugural meeting of the NIMC Steering Committee took place on Friday 11 December 2020.
It is envisaged that members of the Steering Committee and Specialist Group panel will be representative of their respective area of expertise rather than of any organisation, including their nominating organisation.
The membership of the NIMC Steering Committee and Specialist Group Panel represents a broad and diverse spectrum of mental health professionals, experts & advocates, including people with lived experience of mental health difficulties, all of whom are highly qualified and bring considerable expertise to the policy's implementation structures.
Maternity Services
Questions (598)
John Lahart
Question:598. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health if the guidelines of the HSE for pregnant women are in line with international research; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43425/20]
View answerWritten answers
Given the role of the HSE’s National Women & Infants Health Programme in the dissemination of pregnancy related clinical guidelines, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Cross-Border Health Initiatives
Questions (599)
Thomas Gould
Question:599. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the schemes available to persons who need to avail of medical expertise not available in this jurisdiction but available in the UK; the processes through which a patient can apply for these schemes if the tests and procedures required are available here but expertise for interpretation are not; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43428/20]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter I have referred this question to the HSE for direct reply.
Health Services Charges
Questions (600)
David Cullinane
Question:600. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his plans to engage with an organisation (details supplied) to resolve ongoing disputes regarding charging for routine phlebotomy services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43429/20]
View answerWritten answers
There is no provision under the GMS GP contract for persons who hold a medical card or GP visit card to be charged for routine phlebotomy services provided by their GP which are required to either assist in the diagnosis of illness or the treatment of a condition. This has been advised to GPs by the HSE.
The issue of GPs charging GMS patients for phlebotomy services is complex given the numerous different reasons and circumstances under which blood tests are taken. My Department and the HSE discussed this issue previously with the organisation concerned. However, it did not prove possible to achieve agreement that no charges for blood tests would be applied in any circumstances. It is intended to raise this issue again at an appropriate time.
It should be noted that the GP chronic disease management programme which is being phased in from this year will involve the ongoing monitoring of patients’ condition and any blood tests required in this context will be covered by the fees payable for this care.
In addition, the position remains that where a patient who holds a medical card or GP visit card believes he or she has been incorrectly charged for routine phlebotomy services by his or her GP, then that patient should report the matter to their HSE Local Health Office. Local management investigate each complaint received and, where appropriate, arrange for a refund of charges incorrectly applied by the GP.
Cannabis for Medicinal Use
Questions (601)
Thomas Gould
Question:601. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the reason medicinal cannabis must be sourced from the Hague; if other exporters are available; and if consideration has been given to sourcing the product from other sources. [43430/20]
View answerWritten answers
There is no obligation on clinicians in possession of a Ministerial licence pursuant to the Misuse of Drugs Acts 1977-2016 to source cannabis-based products from any particular supplier.
It is important to note that it will always be the decision of the clinician, in consultation with their patient, to prescribe or not prescribe a particular treatment, including cannabis treatment, for a patient under their care. The Minister for Health has no role in this clinical decision-making process.
Cannabis for Medicinal Use
Questions (602)
Thomas Gould
Question:602. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if he has contacted his counterparts in the UK and Northern Ireland to discuss their arrangements for the importation of medicinal cannabis. [43431/20]
View answerWritten answers
This question is being answered on the understanding that the Deputy is referring to importation of individual prescriptions for named patients.
Officials in my Department have been in contact with their counterparts in the UK. UK importers have been using couriers throughout COVID-19 to collect the dispensed prescriptions from a pharmacy in the Netherlands on a named patient basis only. The UK Government does not organise the collections and does not cover the cost of collection and import, except for the NHS prescriptions. Home Office policy allows for other unlicensed cannabis-based products for medicinal use to be imported in anticipation of prescriptions giving wholesalers a small stock on which to draw.
Nursing Home Accommodation
Questions (603)
Duncan Smith
Question:603. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health when residential care will be provided for a person (details supplied). [43440/20]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Nursing Home Accommodation
Questions (604)
Michael Lowry
Question:604. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if additional on-standby payments made to nursing home staff who have agreed to be on call 24 hours a day in the event of a Covid-19 outbreak can be reimbursed to nursing home facilities (details supplied) through the temporary assistance payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43447/20]
View answerWritten answers
The Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme for nursing homes, also known as TAPS, provides financial assistance to private and voluntary nursing homes to support their preparedness in relation to COVID-19 and to manage outbreaks, if and when they present.
Where a nursing home applies for an assistance payment through the scheme, the nursing home may only claim for those additional allowable costs, as set out in the Scheme details. The nursing home must vouch that all amounts claimed are in relation to those allowable costs arising as a result of the impact of COVID-19. In some cases, where an outbreak has been experienced and a claim is made under the outbreak assistance component of the scheme, the claim requires independently certified verification. There is an overall monthly funding cap, which is the maximum amount that may be paid in respect of each month to a nursing home under the scheme.
The HSE administers the scheme and makes payments to nursing homes. The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) administers the application process and provides support and advice to the HSE. Regular reports of Scheme activity, including claims and payments, are produced and monitored by the HSE and submitted to the Department. External Auditors were appointed in April 2020 to perform audits of a sample of TAPS claims submitted each month by nursing homes to assess compliance with the scheme guidelines. The scheme is under continuous review and engagement with the sector is ongoing.
The Deputy will appreciate that, as Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, I cannot intervene in individual cases.
I suggest that the nursing home in question engages with the NTPF in order to ascertain why the claim was denied with a view to resolving the matter.
Consultancy Contracts
Questions (605)
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin
Question:605. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health the costs incurred by his Department or the HSE in the commissioning and production, including professional fees of advice from a company, (details supplied) on Covid-19 restrictions published online on 27 October 2020; and if further expenditure was incurred on external services or consultants for advice on Covid-19 restrictions for the period since 17 October 2020. [43448/20]
View answerAwaiting reply from Department.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (606)
Robert Troy
Question:606. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if an appointment will be scheduled for a person (details supplied). [43450/20]
View answerWritten answers
It is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic the HSE had to take measures to defer most scheduled care activity in March, April, and May of this year. This was to ensure patient safety and that all appropriate resources were made available for Covid-19 related activity and time-critical essential work. This decision was in line with the advice issued by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) in accordance with the advice of the World Health Organisation.
Patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.
The HSE continues to optimise productivity through alternative work practices such the use of alternative settings including private hospitals, community facilities and alternative outpatient settings.
Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The National Waiting List Management Policy is a standardised approach used by the HSE to manage scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures. It sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists and was developed in 2014 to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services
Questions (607)
Alan Kelly
Question:607. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of additional beds that have been provided to date under the winter plan; the breakdown under each category of bed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43452/20]
View answerWritten answers
The Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, commits to continuing investment in our health care services in line with the recommendations of the Health Service Capacity Review and the commitments in Project Ireland 2040.
The Health Service Capacity Review 2018 found that the net requirement in combination with health system reform is for an additional 2,590 hospital beds by 2031 (2,100 inpatient, 300 day case and 190 critical care). The National Development Plan provides for the addition of the full 2,590 beds by 2027.
This winter is expected to be particularly challenging due to the presence of Covid-19 and the uncertainty around the level of Covid-19 and non-Covid-19 healthcare demands. The Department of Health is working with the HSE to increase acute capacity in hospitals throughout the country to meet this and other health demands. Government allocated €236 million revenue and €40 million capital expenditure as part of Budget 2021 to fund additional acute beds on a permanent basis. This funding will provide, by the end of 2021, an additional 1,146 acute beds.
A proportion of these beds will be funded as part of the HSE’s Winter Plan 2020/21. The Winter Plan aims to provide additional health service capacity across a range of services. Initiatives comprise additional acute and community beds to increase acute capacity, help reduce admissions and facilitate egress.
This represents a significant step towards achieving the recommendations in the 2018 Health Service Capacity Review which found that an additional 2,100 inpatient acute beds were required, in a reform scenario, by 2031.
The Winter Plan progress report provided by the HSE on the 10th of December 2020 shows that a total of 466 acute, sub acute and intermediate care beds have been provided. Of these beds 239 were acute beds, 176 intermediate care, and the remaining 51 were sub acute beds.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services
Questions (608)
Alan Kelly
Question:608. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the way in which he is monitoring implementation of the winter plan; if he is receiving regular updates; when he last received an update on implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43453/20]
View answerWritten answers
The Government has allocated an unprecedented investment of €600m to support the early roll-out of an ambitious Winter Plan for 2020/2021 which in the context of the COVID 19 pandemic has the potential to be very challenging in terms of delivering unscheduled care. The Winter Plan will, inter alia, see an additional 892 acute beds, 484 sub acute beds, 631 additional rehabilitation beds, 4.7 million additional home support hours, additional community based services and an expanded flu vaccination programme to reduce pressure on hospital emergency departments.
In view of the scale of the investment it is important that implementation of the Plan is monitored and that the outcomes and outputs of the various elements of the plan are reported.
My Department has communicated to the HSE the reporting requirements to allow it to effectively monitor the Plan's implementation. The HSE has put in place a Programme Management Office to manage the implementation of the Plan. To date, the HSE has provided three progress reports, the most recent dated the 10th of December 2020. These reports provide information on 600 sub initiatives across five work streams. My Department continues to engage with the HSE regarding ongoing reporting and monitoring of the implementation of the Winter Plan to reflect information needs form various stakeholders.
Health Services
Questions (609)
Alan Kelly
Question:609. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of critical care beds now in place, as provided for under the winter plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43454/20]
View answerWritten answers
At the start of the year, permanent adult critical care capacity in our public hospitals stood at 255 beds, according to the National Office of Clinical Audit. This included 204 Level 3 ICU beds and 51 Level 2 HDU beds. As part of the initial response to the pandemic, funding was provided for an additional 40 adult critical care beds in March 2020 as well as two paediatric beds. The HSE has advised that between 280 and 285 critical care beds are currently open, with the number open any given day subject to fluctuation in respect of available staff and other operational considerations.
Budget 2021 will allocate funding totalling €52m in 2021 to critical care. This will retain, on a permanent basis, the 42 critical care beds put in place on a temporary basis this year and add significant new capacity. Funded adult critical care beds will increase to 321 by end 2021, an increase of 66 over the baseline number of 255 funded beds in 2020.
The additional critical care beds referenced in the HSE Winter Plan are encompassed within the Budget 2021 allocation. Their inclusion in the plan reinforces the HSE's commitment to opening these beds over the winter 2020/2021 period.
Health Services Staff
Questions (610)
Alan Kelly
Question:610. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an itemised list of each section 39 organisation that to date has not yet had pay restored since the agreement at the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, in October 2018; if he will provide a list of those that to date have had pay restored; the projected cost of resolving the outstanding bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43455/20]
View answerWritten answers
I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this operational matter.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (611)
Alan Kelly
Question:611. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the projected additional spend on Covid-19 in the health service in 2020; the spend to date; the breakdown of the figures by the amount spent on additional staff and on testing, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43456/20]
View answerWritten answers
The projected 2020 spend on COVID-19 measures in the health service is €2,511.5m.
This reflects the increase in the Health Vote over the original December 2019 estimate of €17,901m, comprised of €1,997m (June 2020 REV) and €514.5m (Dec 2020 Supplementary). All of this is related to COVID responses.
COVID-19 expenditure to end of October 2020 is €2,034m. This figure as reported by the HSE includes circa €182m related to Testing & Contact Tracing and €168m in relation to pay.
Questions Nos. 612 and 613 answered with Question No. 549.